Editor's Page

Dear Reader,

Time and technology march on and so does your Journal of Extension. A number of technical and design changes will be taking place during the coming year, starting with this issue.

The Journal has moved to a new server in a new host state with a new web look. Ohio State University is now the host for the technical side of the Journal. A new server is in place with more capacity and higher performance. This issue begins a more complete "web markup" for the Journal.

The World Wide Web continues to grow in use and access. We see the web as a vital component of where Extension and the Journal are headed. The web has advantages of conventional electronic communications - images, presentation, multimedia, etc. - and we are eager to use these advantages. We are standardizing design and navigational tools to enhance the direct use of the web-Journal. We look forward to the inclusion of new design elements in coming issues.

But everything still works! Almanac and Gopher are still supported - all the existing ways of connecting with and receiving the Journal are being maintained for the present time.

Please take a look at the new web interface and tell us what you think.

We also would like to take this opportunity to say "thank you" to the folks at Virginia Tech who took care of the Journal for the last few years and to Dirk Herr-Hoyman of Wisconsin and Patrick Robinson of Virginia Tech who so ably served as the Journal's technical consultants as the publication made its way from print to electronic format.

There's also a word of apreciation for Sorrel Brown, Iowa State, for her leadership during 1997 as president of the Journal's board of directors. She will continue on the board. Mike Lambur, Virginia Tech, is the new new president of the Journal.

Again with this issue, your Journal brings you a wide variety of articles ranging from child development concerns of affluent parents to volunteerism to recruiting a diverse Extension staff. Of course, you'll find the second half of Patterson's provocative commentary about Extension administration.

There are two national meetings that might interest many in the Extension system.

The first is the 1998 Public Issues Leadership Development Conference April 19-22 in Arlington, VA. Graham Spanier, president of Penn State, will be the keynoter, while Michigan State's Mike Tate will lead a hands on experience in working with decision makers. "Politics and Partnerships: Working within a Web" is the theme of the JCEP-sponsored event.

Registration information is available from Ann Rhinesmith, telephone 908-475-6504 or E-mail rhinesmith@aesop.rutgers.edu. Conference chair is Keith Martikainen, Nebraska, telephone 308- 385-6414, E-mail scrc013@unlvm.unl.edu.

The second event will be held at Oregon State University Oct. 1-3. Theme of the conference, limited to 200 people, is "Scholarship Unbound: Reframing faculty evaluation and awards." It will focus on redefining scholarship and changing tenure and promotional criteria in universities engaged in research and education on and beyond the campus.

Persons interested in learning more about the event should write to Office of Academic Affairs, Oregon State University, 624 Kerr Administration Building, Corvallis, OR 97331, telephone 541- 737-0732 or E-mail gigi.bruce@orst.edu.

Leonard J. Calvert, editor